When I Grow Up
Garbage · Absolute Garbage [2007]
Like a giant juggernaut
Happy hours, golden showers
On a cruise to freak you out
We could fly a helicopter
Nothing left to talk about
Entertain you, celebrate you
I'll be back to frame you
When I grow up I'll be stable
When I grow up I'll turn the tables
Trying hard to fit among you
Floating out to wonderland
Unprotected, God I'm pregnant
Damn the consequences
When I grow up I'll be stable
When I grow up I'll turn the tables
Blood and blisters on my fingers
Chaos rules when we're apart
Watch my temper, I go mental
I'll try to be gentle
When I grow up I'll be stable
When I grow up I'll turn the tables
When I grow up
When I grow up
When I grow up I'll turn the tables
Don't take offence
Can I make amends?
Rip it up to shreds and let it go
Don't take offence
Can I make amends?
Rip it up to shreds and let it go
Rip it up to shreds and let it go
Rip it up to shreds and let it go
Rip it up in shreds and let it go
When I Grow Up
Released on Garbage's 2007 album Absolute Garbage, 'When I Grow Up' stands as a defining track in the band's evolution from alternative rock to electronic pop. Featuring the signature interplay between Shirley Manson's emotive vocals and the driving, synthesized rhythms of Butch Vig and butch Vig's production, the song captures a specific moment in the group's discography where their sound became more polished and dance-oriented. The track reflects the band's continued experimentation with genre boundaries, blending indie sensibilities with club-ready beats. It remains a staple of their later work, showcasing the enduring appeal of their collaborative songwriting and the atmospheric production that characterized their final major studio release before their hiatus.